The Influence of Architects' Journey on Education and Practice

A VK Group monthly newsletter

- October 2023 -

Monthly Highlights

Ar. Vishwas Kulkarni honoured with IIA S.K. Belvalkar Award for Excellence in Profession

The Indian Institute of Architects (IIA) Pune Chapter felicitated Ar. Vishwas Kulkarni with the IIA S.K. Belvalkar Award for Excellence in Profession, on the occasion of World Architecture Day. The award was handed over by Mr Raj Thackeray. Along with Ar. Vikas Bhandaru (Principal Architect, Veekas Studio), Ar. Shoba Bhopatkar (Director, SBA), Ar. Vishwas Kulkarni won the honour in recognition of their invaluable contribution in the profession of architecture over the decades.

Interns Explore the Innovative World of CuMiLab

The interns from VK Group paid a visit to CUMiLab (Curious Minds Laboratory), a think tank conceived by the unification of design research and professional practice. Bhairumal Sutar explained the experimental projects, generative designs and thought processes that goes behind the research.

Dusshera Celebrations at VK Office

On the occasion of Dusshera, employees took a moment to partake in Shastra Pooja, paying their respects to tradition. The festive spirit continued as they enjoyed a lively celebration with rounds of garba and dandiya, adding a touch of joy to the workplace.

From the Editor's Desk

Architect’s Journey: Impact on Education

Recently, I had the incredible opportunity to participate in an international architectural workshop in Istanbul, Turkey, focusing on Socially Situated Architectural Pedagogies (SArPe). What left a lasting impression was the unique approach to knowledge sharing and the influence of the place on architectural education. SArPe placed a strong emphasis on personal experience, where participants were asked to share their stories related to situated pedagogy.

The workshop's interactive activities, hosted at Istanbul Technical University, challenged the conventional presenter-spectator format. It encouraged participants to immerse themselves in diverse narratives and create their own interpretations. The focus wasn't solely on WHAT was discussed but also on HOW these stories and ideas were shared, breaking free from traditional educational norms.

One captivating group activity prompted us to envision a new school of architecture with our unique pedagogical approach. What stood out was that over half of the participants proposed the concept of a "Nomadic" or "Traveling School," with "Traveling Studios" as an integral component. Traveling is more than sightseeing; it's about immersing oneself in unfamiliar surroundings, adapting to new perspectives, and broadening horizons. This inclination towards travel reflects a growing awareness of the transformative power of experiential learning and "travel pedagogy." It centers on the idea of learning through cultural and geographic shifts that alter sense perception and spatial cognition. The concept of self-constructed knowledge is crucial here. Traveling enables learners to gain a profound understanding of the places they visit, fostering their interpretations. This approach challenges traditional architectural education, which often relies on emulating culturally prized sites and masters in a fixed curriculum.

While logistical issues like cost, safety and disruptions would still need to be figured out for making this practical, travel can encourage students and architects to question established norms, experiment with innovative ideas, and draw inspiration from the ever-changing world. Meanwhile, alternative edutainment platforms like Kaarwan are coming up with interesting ways to integrate architectural education and travel though curated roadtrips such as this.

VK Group Breaking Grounds

Architects’ Journey: Impact on Practice

How can travel influence one's architectural practice? In a previous newsletter, we explored how travel shaped B V Doshi's understanding and approach to architecture. The evolution of VK Group from Vishwas Kulkarni Architects is a result of combining the best practices drawn from the diverse experiences of its directors from around the world.

The distinctive dynamism of the firm enriched by Ar. Hrishikesh Kulkarni, Vishwas Kulkarni's son, who brought in his post-graduation insights and work exposure from London. VK:a initiated a significant collaborative venture in 2006 with Ar. David Rhodes from London, solidifying its position as a stalwart in the realm of architectural partnerships in India. Under the stewardship of Hrishikesh, VK:a initiated a team structure, enabling each team to autonomously handle projects, a transformation that further enriched the resilience of the firm.

The collaborative spirit continues, understanding and working with international architects as their local partners in India helping the organisation and the team members to get acquainted with the international standards of working. “"We work not only with architects but also with various design consultants who bring their expertise. This provides our team and organization with valuable exposure to diverse experts,” says Ar. Vijay Sane.

Watch the video for an insight into how the architects' journey has influenced VK Group as a practice!

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Feature Story

Reflecting on the Journey of 50 Years of Urban Design in India

This year, India celebrates 50 years of the formal practice of Urban Design in India. Over these last 5 decades, Urban Design has slowly emerged as an integral approach to looking at the urban public realm in our Indian Cities. Vk:a architecture and VK:u urban, has also worked on various Urban Design projects with the Pune, Bhubaneshwar and Solapur Smart Cities programme and even in our many large scale urban intervention projects like Townships. We also did the Urban Street Design Guidelines (USDC) for Pune Municipal Corporation, a seminal piece of design guidelines.

It is no wonder that our senior colleagues, Dwaipayan Chakravarty (who is also the Hon. Secretary of IUDI Pune) and Anagha Paranjape-Purohit actively participated in Second Urban Design National Conference (IUDI NATCON 2023) held at Panaji, Goa in September. The Institute of Urban Designers India (IUDI) is India’s only institute that works for the mainstreaming of Urban Designers in India’s cities. This year, with the topic being “50 years of Urban Design & Resilience of the Indian City”, the conference brought together practicing urban design professionals, students, academicians, bureaucrats and elected representatives to discuss and deliberate upon ways, means and processes to make Indian cities resilient to the emerging climate crisis. Over 220 delegates, speakers and thinkers of National and International repute shared their practical experiences and thoughts on resilience of cities and the climate crisis over 3 days. Topics ranged from Environment to Mobility, Social & Cultural Resilience, Policy and Legislation and many more, with interesting, short presentations by a range of talented speakers, including Ar. Anagha. Ar. Dwaipayan was the Co-Convenor of the event alongwith being the Master of Ceremonies for all the days. The Chief Guest was the Hon. Chief Minister of Goa – Shri Pramod Sawant – who spoke passionately of how good urban design is helping shape our cities, in the space left behind Planners and Architects, and helping Goa as well in the Smart Cities programme. Shri Kunal Kumar (IAS) - Joint Secretary & Mission Director (Smart Cities Mission), Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India – was the Guest of Honour, and spoke on four parameters to achieve holistic urban realms. There was a beautiful tribute to the close relationship between Er. Mahendra Raj and Ar. B.V. Doshi – doyens and pillars of our architectural arrival in India. Esben Neander Kristensen from Gehl (Netherlands) gave the keynote address with examples of Gehl’s work on multiple cultural communities around the world.

Material In Focus

QuantaWaves: Illuminating Innovation at CuMiLab

The CuMiLab studio has a low-light area right at the entrance, created purposefully to house a light fixture that is curated specifically for the lab. Everything in the studio resonates with the philosophy of CuMiLab, which is, boundless, ever-evolving and continuous flow of creative energy. QuantaWaves follows the same pursuit.

QuantaWaves is a lighting fixture that not only illuminates, but also captivates. It is a bespoke creation, meticulously crafted to redefine one’s perception of lighting fixtures, offering a fusion of form, function, and artistic expression. With its sinuous lines and geometric precision, it becomes a breathtaking sculpture, inviting you to embark on a journey of sensory delight. An organic yet structured arrangement of black aluminium pipes, forms a dynamic wave form. It is illuminated using LED bulbs fitted at the top end of each pipe. It's available in a range of material finishes, sizes, and forms to cater to diverse technical, aesthetic, and illumination requirements. Whether you prefer different colors or materials, QuantaWaves can be tailored to suit your specific needs, making it a truly customizable and adaptable lighting solution.

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Book Recommendation

Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino

In "Invisible Cities", Italo Calvino narrates about the explorer Marco Polo describing his encounters with various fantastical cities to the emperor Kublai Khan. The cities he describes are often surreal and imaginative, blurring the lines between reality and fiction.

The book serves as an invitation to consider the essence of urban spaces beyond their mere physicality. Calvino's descriptions challenge the traditional notions of city design and encourage a deeper exploration of the emotional and sensory experiences cities can evoke. The novel prompts architects to reflect on the intricate relationship between form and function, as well as the potential for cities to be places of artistic expression and cultural richness.